NAAC report of Government Post Graduate College

Section 1: Preface
Government Postgraduate College, Hisar, Haryana affiliated to Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (now affiliated to Ch. Devi Lal University, Sirsa) held meeting with Higher Education Commissioner, Haryana in April, 2002, subsequent to the decision the College volunteered to be assessed by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The College entrusted the work to a few teachers who conducted preliminary self-study and submitted the self-study report to NAAC for its assessment and accreditation. The NAAC after having duly processed the self-study report constituted peer team to visit the institution and validate the self-study report. The peer team consisted of the following members:

The team visited the institution for three days from August 21-23, 2003.

The postgraduate College affiliated to the Kurukshetra University (now Ch. Devi Lal University, Sirsa) covering a total area of 48 acres was established in 1950 at Hisar, in the erstwhile united Punjab with just about 100 students and only six subjects in Humanities. In 1952 the College started co-education. Today the college has 2572 undergraduate and 262 postgraduate students on rolls. College offers 25 undergraduate and 04 postgraduate programmes as against 06 five decades ago. The institution has got UGC recognition under 2f in 1950 and also under 12B in the same year.

The College has 97 teachers on its faculty out of which only 03 are ad hoc and part time. Out of 94 permanent teachers, 16 of them have got Ph.D. to their credit, while 26 have M.Phil degrees and the remaining 54 are postgraduates. Out of 03 ad hoc/part time teachers 01 is Ph.D. degree holder, while the remaining 02 are postgraduates. Out of 64 members of non-teaching staff and 29 are in administrative wing while the remaining 35 are in the technical cadre. The college has central library with 82352 references. The college has computer center, health center, housing and vehicle parking shed.

The peer team carefully perused and analyzed the SSR submitted by the institution. During the institutional visit, the team went through all the relevant documents, visited the departments and the facilities and interacted with various constituents of the institution. The academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular, sports and extension facilities of the institution were visited. The peer team also interacted at length with the Head of the institution, faculty, administrative and technical staff, students, parents and alumni of the institution. Based on the above exercise, and keeping in mind the criteria identified by NAAC, the peer team has taken a value judgment. The assessment of the institution under various criteria, the commendable features of the institution as well as the issues of concern are given in the following pages.

Section 2: Criterion -Wise Analysis:
Criterion 1: Curricular Aspects
As an affiliated postgraduate College of Kurukshetra University (now Ch. Devi Lal University, Sirsa), the College follows syllabi prescribed by the University for sciences, social sciences and commerce faculties both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in an annual pattern. The College offers 25 programmes, 22 undergraduate and 04 postgraduate programmes. The College offers conventional courses and in the faculty of science, the institution offers computer sciences and computer applications at UG level.

The college is able to initiate new programmes after the same is discussed with University and Government. The institution has recently introduced at under-graduate level Electronic Equipment Maintenance course which is job oriented. The students have flexibility to pursue academic programmes.

Since the curriculum is designed by the University Board and as such it in no way reflects any specific goals of the institution. The College is yet to have any mechanism to get student feed back on its teaching programmes. The College needs to evolve College industry neighbourhood networking. Various educational tours are organised for students to visit different parts of the country to get awareness of the socio-cultural set-up of the country.

Criterion II: Teaching - Learning and Evaluation
The admission to various courses of study are done on the basis of previous academic record of student and no entrance test is conducted. The performance of students is regularly monitored through periodical tests and assignments. The student's progress is also monitored by five monthly tests in a year and house examination, which is conveyed to parents. The teacher learner interaction is further substantiated by a limited number of periodical tutorials. The faculty at the beginning of academic session fixes target to complete the courses. The syllabi is utilised according to annual system of teaching and during the academic session three house tests are conducted to assess the learners. The classroom instructions are supplemented by extension lectures, seminars, workshops, etc. The teaching in the College needs to be supplemented by communication technology gadgets. The average workload of a teacher is 24 periods per week in an academic calendar, which has 190 teaching days. Further the performance of students is also assessed by literary competitions, talent search shows, etc.

There are 97 members on faculty out of which 94 are permanent 16 are Ph.D. degree holders while 26 are M.Phil. The recruitment of teachers is regulated through Haryana Public Service Commission. There is self-appraisal for assessment of teachers and the faculty performance is also viewed in terms of ACR's and student results. The good teachers lists are forwarded to the state government for conformant of best teacher award, which has been instituted recently in the State. The faculty needs to be exposed to more number of symposia, debates, seminars, etc to enhance the performance. There is a need for faculty improvement programmes to encourage teachers and the faculty may establish national or international academic linkages. Faculty in science and non-science subjects are need to be regular members of academic associations and societies at national or state level.

Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension
Out of 22 departments there are only four departments which offer research co-guidance at M.Phil level and none from faculty of science and none from faculty of Commerce. The institution has provision of study leave for its teachers subject to approval of the State government Only 15% of teachers are actively engaged in research. There are 5 on-going research projects with financial outlay of Rs.2.38 lakhs from UGC. All research projects are granted to faculty of Geography and Sanskrit and most of these projects have been completed.

The College has extension activities run by teachers and students. The constituent units of these units are NSS, NCC, Women Cell and a programme entitled 'Earn while you learn'. The broad areas of extension activities of the college are community development, health and hygienic awareness, adult education and literacy, AIDS awareness, social work, blood donation, environment awareness, women empowerment, etc. The institution has earned State-level prizes and awards in extension activities and sports.

Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources
During the last 50 years the College has expanded its infrastructural facilities in the form of creation of additional classrooms, new structures for new departments, auditorium, sports facilities, library with 83000 references, parking sheds and a girls hostel. The library needs automation. The library needs to be connected with other libraries to have effective networking of library facility. In order to strengthen library facility the college needs to facilitate Reprography, audio and video system, internet access etc for students and faculty. The institution has computer centre with 24 systems used for academic programmes. The huge stock of information technology gadgets available at the institution need to be optimally utilized as a central facility, besides academic input. At the college premises there is TATA INFOTECH, a private concern, to supplement information technology know-how to the people who would like to avail it of, and the same is available at a nominal fee. The institution has limited number of staff quarters for a few teachers and Principal.

The facilities for sports are 400 mts athletic track, hockey, football, handball, volleyball, kho-kho and basketball court. The College provides support system for games and financial incentive to needy sport students as incentive. The sports activity of the college is diversified. Students have easy access to sports equipments and play games at the campus premises round the calendar year.

Criterion V: Student Support and Progression
The College maintains a good record of success rate. In case of batch I the success rate has been 77.65% and the drop out rate is 23%, while in case of the second batch the success rate is 88% and the drop out rate is 12% at undergraduate level. The drop out rate at the post-graduate level is 8% in case of batch I and less than 1% in case of batch II at post-graduate level. Postgraduate students need to be motivated to qualify in UGC/CSIR (NET) examination. There is a need to start collecting feedback from students both at under-graduate and post-graduate level. The institution annually publishes its prospectus which contains academic information for student. The college also publishes its magazine.

The College has financial aid available in the form of merit scholarship, SC/BC stipend, handicap stipend, old student association scholarship. 335 students received scholarships under various categories last year. There is a career guidance and counselling cell in the College. However college may have its own placement cell to benefit students. The College has Alumni Association, which awarded scholarships to 231 meritorious students of economically weaker sections since its inception in 1981. The recreation facilities are confined to games and cultural activities of College. The college has institutions like Women Cell, 'Earn while you learn' and literary clubs which engage students in various activities towards students personality development and progression. The college has good practice of teaching staff association with its executive functionary which contribute to social, cultural and welfare activities.

Criterion VI: Organisation and Management
Govt. PG College, Hisar has committees and sub-committees to coordinate academic and other activities. These committees are constituted every year to look after smooth functioning of the College. The overall coordination and monitoring is done by the Principal. There is an office for Coordination Committee which checks the work efficiency of non-teaching staff. The institution has internal mechanism of writing ACR for each employee. The College has Government sponsored professional development programmes for non-teaching staff. However college may further strengthen the existing professional development activity to facilitate administrative staff to equip themselves with modern know-how and administrative skills. The recruitment decisions are taken by the government. The expenditure of College is audited annually. The college has various welfare schemes for its staff including schemes like housing loan, car loan, computer and other loan facilities sanctioned by the state Government. There is a grievance redressal cell headed by a teacher to listen to the disputes and complaints of its staff. However efficient management, co-ordination and administration of the Principal also redresses grievances and complaints of the staff from time to time. The teachers of the college do not get financial benefit from 'teachers welfare fund' of the university but are provided access to other university facilities instead.

Criterion VII: Healthy Practices
The College has a practice of democratic decentralization of functioning by having various committees annually constituted to look after academic and developmental activities and suggest says and means for greater efficiency. The college has alumni association which meets occasionally and support students of weaker sections financially. The institution has cultural activities being organised by the college at various intervals during an academic session.

Section 3: Overall Analysis:
The peer team, after going through self-study report and self-analysis and after its visit to various academic and physical facilities, is impressed by the progress of Govt. P.G. College, Hisar towards realizing goals and objectives of providing quality education and maintaining standards. The peer team would like to commend the college for following aspects:

greater devotion of the teaching component enabling the institution about 83% pass out rates on an average with several distinctions.

study and educational tours for students in an academic session exposing them to ethnic and cultural diversity and educational awareness in the country.

greater co-operation among the teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution for furtherance of academic growth.

the number of teaching days above average due to peaceful functioning of institution.

effective leadership and good human relationship resulting in effective team work.

greater concern for sports involving students in various games and student participation at state and regional level. The medals, awards and trophies earned by the institution at the state level needs a special mention.

development of physical infrastructure for extra-curricular activities

democratic participation of teachers in college development and academic activities

establishment of counselling and guidance cell, women cell are laudable critical components of students support progression.

cultural activities at the institution exposing the students of cross section groups career personality development.

the extension activity for community development such as NSS, NSS Women Cell and programmes like 'Earn while you learn' need special mention

the students aid fund and 'support to employment programmes for women (STEP)

the College has functional Alumni Association, which awarded scholarships to 231 meritorious students of economically weaker sections since its inception in 1981.

winning of prizes by students of the college in science exhibitions at the state level

the hostel facility for girls, canteen and sports for academic growth

information technology gadgets like computer systems and accessories available in the institution.

health care facility headed by a professional doctor in the college.

co-curricular activities like inter-zonal literacy competition and the prizes won by the students.

Keeping in view the future plans of the College the Peer Team would suggest the following to the College to consider.

while the peer team appreciates the overall mission and goal of educational empowerment, the college needs to identify the specific objectives and make strategic plans to attain the same.

the College may explore the possibilities of few professional job-oriented courses at post-graduate and under-graduate level

the College may explore further the possibilities of additional PG programmes.

while 15% of teachers have Ph.D. as highest academic qualification, efforts need to be made to improve the academic qualifications of teaching staff. The state govt. may encourage the College faculty to undergo M.Phil and Ph.D.

in order to ensure quality education and sustain the same, student feed back needs to be implemented on academic programmes and faculty

the College needs to explore the possibilities of using communication technology gadgets and teaching aid material for post-graduate and under-graduate courses in phased manner. The college may further explore the possibilities of providing computers along with internet facility to more faculty and students.

efforts need to be made for automation of Library in phased manner.

college may explore possibilities of construction of library extension block with UGC grant

a counselling and guidance cell for students may be strengthened further.

the institution and the authorities of the state Government need to fill up all the available vacancies and strengthen teaching wherever the departments have paucity of teachers.

However care needs to be taken to see that all courses and options are taught by regular faculty.

the faculty needs to be more exposed to State level and national level seminars, symposia, conferences and workshops.

faculty members in general and that of science in particular need to make efforts to take up research work, minor or major, from University Grants Commission/Department of Science & Technology and/or any other funding authority.

a formal mechanism for collecting feed back from students on various aspects of their learning experiences at the departmental/institutional levels need to be instituted.

the institution may explore possibilities of further strengthening alumni association and facilitate establishment of parent-teacher association to fulfill its mission and goals.

The existing tutorial classes in every subject at under-graduate and post-graduate level need to be made broad based with grater frequency.

the Postgraduate College needs to optimise the use of its premises by having additional buildings to augment its existing physical infrastructure

being one of the oldest colleges due attention needs to be paid to the maintenance of physical infrastructure and college premises.

the College needs to provide short-term and crash courses to its non-teaching staff towards their professional development.

supporting staff needs to be motivated to undergo training through any non-formal mode/IGNOU to equip themselves with administrative skills, accounting, audit, managerial skills and computer skills.

The peer team is of the opinion that this exercise would be useful to the college to initiate the quality enhancement and quality sustenance strategies towards further growth and development.

AJAY TEWARI J. (ORAL)
The petitioner who is a college Lecturer has challenged his transfer from Hisar to Tauru. In written statement, it has been brought out that right from the date of his appointment viz. 2002 till the date of the impugned transfer order 2006 he remained posted in the Govt. College, Hisar and Govt. College, Adampur which is just about 30 KM from Hisar and it was only after such a long stay at Hisar or nearby colleges the
petitioner was transferred to Govt. College, Tauru on administrative exigencies.

The only argument raised by learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is the sole technically qualified Lecturer who can teach post-graduate classes of Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing Technology and these courses are available only at Hisar.

However, it is to be noticed that no such grouse were raised by the petitioner during his tenure in the Govt. College, Adampur where also admittedly these courses/classes are not available. There is no allegation of mala fide.